same $100k income, fresh start from York

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

instead of york

Roanoke

va · metro 314k

photo: Joseph Fuller / pexels

a dispatch from

roanoke

VA

37.27°N

79.94°W

Roanoke is the Star City of the South, named for the enormous illuminated star on Mill Mountain that's been lighting up the valley since 1949. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right past town. The downtown has come back beautifully with the Taubman Museum, breweries, and a thriving market. The surrounding mountains are gorgeous in every season. Smaller and more scenic than people expect.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$245

more expensive each month than York

You'd pay for Roanoke. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

2% more expensive than York(vs $1,361/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$223/mo more in state tax than York

vs 3.07% in York

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$245 less than York

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$296k

4% cheaper than York

vs $310k in York

05metro size

314k

vs 465k in York

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

York keeps to 159 pleasant days a year.

1100% more happening than in York.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

8% higher than York

vs 64/100 in York

Closest outdoor draw: Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 22.3 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

1% higher than York

vs 93/100 in York

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

25% fewer than York

vs 12 nonstops in York

04 · see also

cities that play in roanoke's register:

see also

chattanooga

$337/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

el paso

$388/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

lexington

more flight options

turn the page

compare roanoke with:

ChattanoogaEl PasoLexington